Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-30
THE COMING CODE.
OLD AND NEW LAWS As THEY WILL
COKE FROM TIE REvIsERs.
The Statutes Confused Mass OF Ineen-
slstencles--H How They Are to
be Shaped Up.

FCr TWO years past tAOuuRc WdhSi
r. Staples, ex-Judge =. G. Burks, and
John W. Rely, Esq, have been en-
gagged, according TO act of Assembly, in
revising the Code of Virginia. Their
undertaking is gigantic one. The
hast such work was in lS49. Since then
there have been two Qualifications of the
laws, but no general and systematic re-
vision. Under any circumstances, after
such lapse Of time, the labor would be
formidable. but IL is extraordinarily SO
in view Of the changes--the revolutions,
indeed-that have taken place in this
country, in Virginia, in our system OF
county and CITY government, and In the
manner of doing public and private
business.
THE OBJECTS AIMED At.
The revisers are TO put the laws in the
shape that they should be in without
making any radical changes IN our
practice. Their Code goes 20 the Gen
eral Assembly, and viii be adopted sec
tion by section and chapter by chapter.
The General Assembly viii amend 1t as
they please.
The labor of the revisers Is TO make
plain what is obscure, to reduce redun-
dancies, TO harmonic conflicting acts,
and 10 group together kindred subjects.
The material ont of which they have to
carve the new Code is the Code OF 1873,
n book of nearly |. 900 pages. and some
twelve or thirteen volumes of the Acts
Of Assembly.
CONFUSED LAWS.
Many Of these laws as passed are IN
coherent; many fyjn the face OF other
laws: many are already covered by eX-
listing legislation.
From this quarry the revisers must
select their material and shape 1t 10 suit
the times, the people. and the LeSlsla-
turc. They want to make book that
will be equal 10 the best OF the modern
codes: that will be valuable to the |
Judge. to the lawyer, to the justice, TO |
The businessman, and private citizen.
Undoubtedly the revisers, Messrs. Sta
pies, Burks. and Rely, have the ability |
W do II.
SPECIAL LAWS.
The special laws of Virginia give the |
revise RS much trouble. Different cir
cult courts have jurisdictions of diff
ferent character as to certain matters. |
Boards of supervisors III one county |
have authority not conferred on other |
boards. There are special game, fish,
fence. and other laws-laws that Ope-
rate in one county and not in another;
in fact. that operate sometimes IN one
part Of a county and not in another.
To manage these requires almost |
boundless ingenuity and patience.
WHAT HELP THEY HAVE HAD.
The average time required by revisers
to revise and codify States laws has
been found to he about three years.
Our revisers have been at work about |
two. They have had very little help.
The members of the bar, with rare eX-
ceptions. have given very stintedly OF
assistance. So, almost unaided, the re-
visers have attacked the great labor be-
fore them. and now they begin tOseethe
end Not that their labor is done. 1t |
is not, and VIII not be for months to
come.
THE REPORT.
When the revision is ready the re-
visers have to set to work to write out |
their report-a paper that will be pub
lished page for page along with the re-
vision and explain ahe reasons for all |
changes made. 1t will be map Of
every step taken.
THE BOOK.
BY striking out great deal OF mat
ter which has no proper place III Code, |
and, by condensing that retained, the |
revisers will 10 doubt be able to reduce
fine bulk very greatly. Then if the !
Legislature orders the new Code to be
printed in modernized style, it Will
come within the limits of volume OF
the size of the Code Of 1860.
While the chapters, captions, &c,
will be retained, the revisers, 1t Is I'M
derstood. will adopt the system now IN
almost universal use Of numbering the
sections continuously from one no
wards
AFTER ADOPTION.
After the Legislature has acted upon
the Code-after it has left its hands
the revisers have months of work to do
in preparing the marginal notes-that
is, references to cases decided in the
highest courts Then there is the IN
dex. That is a puzzling job. OF first
class indexes there are very few. 1t is
one of the most difficult of tasks, and in
this respect, if in no other, the Code OF
1873 was deficient.
The revisers are at work in the room |
over the clerks Office in the Supreme |
Courtroom building.
Death of Mrs. Atkins.